2-Chloroethanephosphonic acid derivatives

ABSTRACT

2-CHLOROETHANEPHOSPHONIC ACID DERIVATIVES HAVING VALUABLE BIOLOGICAL PROPERTIES AND A PROCESS FOR REGULATING THE GROWTH OF PLANTS WITH THESE COMPOUNDS.

United States Patent Beutel et al.

[451 Feb. 18; 1975 Z-CHLOROETHANEPHOSPHONIC ACID DERIVATIVES {75] Inventors: Peter Beutel, Mannheim; Johann Jung, Limburgerhof; Falk Rittig, Dubliner, all of Germany [73] Assignee: Badische Anilin-& Soda-Fabrik Aktiengesellschaft, Ludwigshafen/ Rh nfi r y 22 Filed: July 24,1972

21 Appl. No.2 274,579

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Aug. 14, 1971 Germany 2140842 [52] U.S. Cl 260/924, 71/86, 260/247, 260/293.51, 260/945, 260/978 Primary ExaminerL0rraine AfWeinberger Assistant Examiner-Richard L. Raymond Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Johnston. Keil. Thompson- & Shurtleff [57] ABSTRACT 2-chlo'roethanephosphonic acid derivatives having valuable biological'properties and a process for regulating the growth of plants with these compounds.

6 Claims, No'Drawings 1 2 Z-CHLOROETHANEPHOSPHONIC ACID To produce the betaines it is also possible to start DERIVATIVES from cyclic 2-chloroethanephosphonic esters 1 The present invention relates to new derivatives of O 2 2-chloroethanephosphonic acid, agents containing 5 1 It them for regulating the growth of plants, and a process Q' E R for producing these compounds. v

It is known (Dutch patent application No. 6,802,633, E

French Pat. No. 1,555,173 and British Pat. No. R to R having the above meanings, and react them 1,194,433) that 2-chloroethanephosphonic acid has with amines in which R R and R have the above We have now found that compounds of the formula The reactionis advantageously carried out in an inert diluent which. expediently, dissolves the starting como 9 ponent but is a nonsolvent lor the end product. lixumn 3 5 ples of such solvents are benzene and substituted bcn- Cl-CH -CH -P i I to 7 zenes, e.g., toluene, xylenes, and vchlorobenzzene; ni-

' 'QE :I' triles, e.g., acetonitrile, propionitrile, and butyronitrilc; R R R ethers, e.g., diethyl ether and dioxane; hydrocarbons and chlorinated. hydrocarbons, e.g., methylene chlowhere R R R d R h denote h d lower ride, chloroform, and carbon tetrachloride; and other lk l th l, th l); in ert solvents. The reaction may take place within a R and R eachdenote hydrogen or lower alkyl of 1 temperature range of from to advantato 4 carbon atoms (methyl, ethyl), aryl (phenyl) or geously 20 to +150C, and preferably -10 to R denotes hydrogen; alkyl which may be substituted 2-chloroethanephosphonic acid and the 2-chloroeby N1-1 01-1, CN, Cl, COOR, CONR OR or SR, R denoting lower alkyl well-known compounds and easily accessible by conand R having the meaning given above; aryl (pheventional methods. nyl) or cycloalkyl (cyclohexyl or cyclooctyl); Some of the 2-chloroethanephosphonic betaines are or R and R together with the nitrogen atom whose hygroscopic, colorless to pale yellow solids which are substituent they aredenote a pyridine or morpho- 40 very easily soluble in water, fairly soluble in lower alcoline ring, V hols annd strongly polar solvents, but difficultly soluble have a considerable growth regulating action. in other organic solvents.

The new compounds are obtained by reacting The preparation of the compounds of the invention 2-chloroethanephosphonic acid 'is illustrated below.

0 EXAMPLE 1 H OH 1 Slowly and with ice cooling, a solution of 5.7 parts OH (by weight) of pr opylenimine in parts of acetonitrile thanephosphonic esters, the aziridines and amines are. I

is added to a solution of 14.5 parts of Z-chloroethanewith an aziridine of the formula 50 phospho'nic acid in parts of acetonitrile, A milky emulsion is formed. The solvent is decanted from the settled -oil and solvent residues are removed under a 2 water jet vacuum. There is 'obtained 20.1 parts of the 1 t colorless 2chloroethanephosphonic-O-Z- R 1 7 55 aminopropane betaine melting at 103 to 105C.

1 v I BE-C/ fi c,H,,NPo,c| (201.5) 1 C H N P (I Y 6Q Culct 29.8; 6.5; 7.0; 15.4; 17.0 where R to R have the above meanings: Fwndi 3 if! l. O it OH R C g n -O Cl-CH -CH .P N-R CI-CH CH -P R R H oH n -c 2 2 1 1 w 7 0-e-c-N-R R l2 '4 t EXAMPLE 2 Over a period of 3 hours and under reflux, a slow gas NTH"NPOCI (C2295) H N p Cl stream of trimethylamine is passed through a solution of 17 parts of 2-oxo-2-(2-chloroethyl)-1,3,2-dioxaggh 'i 22:25 32 phospholane in 100 parts of absolute benzene until the weight increases by 5.9 parts. After removal of the solvent and volatiles, there remains 18.4 parts (a yield of Th following compounds may be prepared in similar percent) of 2-chloroethanephosphonic-0-(N-trimemanner. Where no melting point could be given, the thylaminoethane)-betaine as a glassy, viscous, hygro- 10 compounds were clearly identified by their infrared scopic mass. spectra.

Compound m.p. C)

6] n 2 2? O-CH -CH NH to 91 2 V 2 3 1 CH C i i e 10 1; 105 C Q o CH JH NH CH 5 1 C2 9 C -CH CH P 0 l 2 to l 5 O-CI-1 -C(CH -NH O I '9 II Cl-CH -CH -P o I O-CH IH-NH v 106 to 107 5 l 9 01 P=O- stretching vibration Cl-CH -CH -2 o 1220 cmi 2 2 o-cH CH -N(CH 2 2 5 3 P-O-C- stretching I vibration 980 cm 901 Cl-CH -CH -P o P=O- stretching vibration:

1 160 cm P-O-C- stretching vibration: 1030 cm CH QH- deformation vibration: 1050 cm C-O- stretchingyibration:

0 1320- cm -NH stretching vibration: w 2700 cm- 9 03 ClCH -CH P 0 to O-CH -CH --NH -CH CH NH l 9 01 C -CH -CH -P 0 CH CH O e 1. o Cl-CH -CH -P c 1 v O-CH -CH-NH 0 e n n Cl-CH CH -P o O-CH -CHNH Continued Cl-CH ---CH CH CH .6- e-eg Q CH3 ctr i Continued Y 9 201 Cl-CI-l 'f-CH c-P g g cH CH3 H2 The agents according to the invention may be used as solutions, emulsions, suspensions or dusts or in the 10 form of granules. The form of application depends entirely on the purpose for which the agents are being used; in any case it should ensure a fine distribution of the active ingredient. i

For the preparation of solutions to be sprayed direct,

water issuitable. However, hydrocarbons having boiling points higher than 150C, e.g. tetrahydronaphthalene or alkylated naphthalenes, or-organic liquids having boiling points .higherthan 150C and having one or more than one functional group, e.g. the

keto group, the ether group, the ester group or the amide group, this group or these groups being attached as substituent(s) to a hydrocarbon chain or being a component of a heterocyclic ring, may also be used as spray liquids. Natural vegetable oils such as palm-oil may in some cases be suitable.

Aqueous formulations may be prepared from concentrates, pastes or wettable powders by adding water. To prepare emulsions the ingredients as such or dissolved in a solvent may be homogenized in water or organic solvents by means of wetting or dispersing agents,

e.g., polyethylene oxide adducts. Concentrates which are suitable for dilution with water may be prepared from active ingredient,'emulsifying or dispersing agent and possibly solvent. g

' Dusts may be prepared by mixing or grinding the active ingredients with a solid carrier, e.g., kieselguhr, talc, clay or fertilizers.

The main characteristic of the new compounds is their intensive stunting action on plants. The measure 40 1 of the degree of action is first and foremost the reductionin plant height, but other morphological changes are also manifested which are grouped together under the term epinasty". An epinastic effect is the curling of the leaves round the shoot, and of the shoots round the stem; epinasty maybe considered to be a measure of the biological activity of a phosphonic acid derivative.

The reduction in plant height and the extent of epinasty result in other effects such as increased stem formation or tillering, improved rooting, inducing flowering (e.g. bromeliaceae), influencing the time of flowering and hastening ripening (e.g. of tomatoes and vines), and influencing plant metabolism and the production of various plant substances (e.g. stimulation of latex formation in Hevea).

The action of the compounds of the invention is illustrated by the following examples:

EXAMPLE 3 Action of Tobacco Plants Young tobacco plants of the Badischer Burlcy type were treated under greenhouse conditions and at a growth height of 18' cm with 0.75' kg per hectare of each of the following active ingredients. The height of.

theplants was measured after 30 days; the superior action of the new compounds is evident from the results contained in the following table. The compatibility of v the new compounds is superior to that of the known compound.

9 10 Active ingredient v tobacco plants, leaf treatment kg/ha growth height; growthheight,

v cm relative untreated 0.0 1 1 9 on 6 6 8 C -C -P 0.75 2. 9

(prior art) Cl-CH -CH -P O 0.75 61.} 88

- O-CH -CH -NH 1 I '9 019 I I'm 6 6 I C C -P y 3 0.75 81 CH2 O-CH -CH-C H EXA P EA EXAMPLE 5 ingredients. When treated, the plants were approxi mately cm high. After treatment a considerable re-' duction in growth was observed. The growth height of the plants was measured lb days after treatment.

Action on Potato Plants Cut pieces, i.e buds cut out from the tuber, were Y planted in soil in glass dishes (-12, cm in diameter) and treated at a growth height of about 8 cmwith 2X10 mmoles of active ingredientper dish. During the further period of growth and upon conclusion of the experiment after 2 1 days it was ascertained that the new growth regulators have a considerable biological acleaf treatment Active ingredient tomato-plants,

' kg/ha growth height rowth height 7 .cm. relative untreated a 58.0 10o prior art) 9 0] C1-C8 -CH -P o 1.5 51 .o 88

, i v a a 1.-

Active ingredient treatment rowth height degree of concentra' -J r epinasti tionmmole cm relative after 1 days control 23.3 I O 2 0 ClCH -CH -;P v 2x10 22.0 94 6 (prior art) C -p\O H 2x10 7- 75 c1 CH 0? iii/01 CH an arc-' 2o 2 87 8 I 2 8 a i Cl-C -01! -P CH-G H 2x10 1 79. 7 2. \o cn r 2 5 v o N 11 a I 3\ 3 2 r Cl-CH -CH -P C 2x10 19.) 83 8 \o-cn cH =no effect =greatest degree of epinasty EXAMPLE 6 Action on Cotton Plants EXAMPLE ll. parts by weight of the compound of Example 2 is intimately mixed with a mixture consisting of 92 parts by weight of powdered silica gel and 8 parts by weight of paraffin oil which has been sprayed onto the surface of this silica gel. 'A formulation of the active ingredient is obtained having good adherence.

We claim:

1. A 2-chloroethanephosphonic acid derivative of the formula Active ingredient Cotton plants, leaf treatment kg/ha growth height cm relative untreated 15.1 100 e OH Y C'l-CH -CH -P 13.5 89

o OH (prior art) L 0 e c1-cE -'crt -i'= o 3 12.5 83

. 0-cn :H -i-m EXAMPLE 7 Y S, 0'! 90 Cl-CH -CH -P "R R R parts by weight of the compound of Example 1 1s 2 2 up 7 mixed with 10 parts by weight of N-methyl-a- O-C--C pyrrolidone. A mixture is obtained which is suitable for 2 fi l 6 application in the form of very fine drops.

. I I where v EXAMPLE 8 R, R R and R each denote hydrogen or lower alkyl,

20 parts by weight of the compound of Example 2 i8 40 R2 and R4 each denote hydrogen, lower alkyl, phenyl, dissolved in a mixture consisting of 80 parts by weight or cyclohexyl, R denotes hydrogen, phenyl, cyclo of xylene, 10 parts by weight of the adduct of 8 to 10 hexyl, cyclooctyl or alkyl which may be substituted by moles of ethylene oxide to 1 mole of oleic acid-N- 2 monoethanolamide, 5 parts byweight of the calcium or SR, R denoting lower alkyl and R having the salt of dodecylbenzenesulfonic acid, and 5 .parts by meaning given above. Y weight of theadductof 40 moles of ethylene oxide to 2. A 2-chloroethanephosphonic acid derivative as l molefof castor oil. By pouring the solution into claimed in claim 1 wherein R R and R each denote 100,000 parts by-weight of water and uniformly distribhydrogen. uting it therein, an aqueous dispersion is obtained con- 3. A' 2-chloroethanephosphonic acid derivative as taining 0.02 percent by weight of the active ingredient. 5 claimed in claim 1 wherein R, R and R each denote hydrogen, R. denotes ethyl and R R and R each de- EXAMPLE 9 g notes hydrogen.

20 parts by weight of the compound of Example 1 is 4. A 2-chloroethanephosphonic acid derivative as dissolved in a mixture consisting of 70 parts by weight claimed in claim 1 wherein R, R and R each denote of water, 20 parts by weight of the adduct of 7- moles, hydrogen, R denotes methyl and R R and R each of ethylene oxide to 1 mole of isooctylphenol, and 10 denotes hydrogen. v parts by weight of the adduct of 40 moles of ethylene 5. A 2-chloroet hanephosphonic acid derivative as oxide to 1 mole of castor oil. By pouring the solution claimed in claim 1 wherein R, R R, R and R each into 100,000 parts by wei'ghtof water and uniformly denotes hydrogen, and R and R each denotes methyl. distributing it therein, an aqueous dispersion is ob- 6. The compound of the formula vtained containing 0.02 percent by weight of the active ingredient. O 0

EXAMPLE 10 CLCH v I 2 v2 3 parts by weight of the compound of Example 1 1s C intimately mixed with 97 parts by weight of particulate kaolin. A dust is obtained containing 3 percent by he ht 9? hsesdvs in r dien 

1. A 2-CHLOROETHANEPHOSPHONIC ACID DERIVATIVE OF THE FORMULA
 2. A 2-chloroethanephosphonic acid derivative as claimed in claim 1 wherein R5, R6 and R7 each denote hydrogen.
 3. A 2-chloroethanephosphonic acid derivative as claimed in claim 1 wherein R1, R2 and R3 each denote hydrogen, R4 denotes ethyl and R5, R6 and R7 each denotes hydrogen.
 4. A 2-chloroethanephosphonic acid derivative as claimed in claim 1 wherein R1, R2 and R3 each denote hydrogen, R4 denotes methyl and R5, R6 and R7 each denotes hydrogen.
 5. A 2-chloroethanephosphonic acid derivative as claimed in claim 1 wherein R1, R2, R5, R6 and R7 each denotes hydrogen, and R3 and R4 each denotes methyl.
 6. The compound of the formula 